Garment-supporter.



N0. 786,194=. PATENTED MAR. 28, 1905.

J. C. COPELAND.

GARMENT SUPPORTBR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 24 1904.

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UNITED STATES Patented March 28, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

GARMENT-SUPPORTER- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,194, dated March. 28, 1905. Application filed May 24,1904. Serial No, 209,520.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMEs C. COPELAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pottsville, in the county of Schuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Garment Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to garment-supporters adapted for general application, but particularly intended for use in connection with hose and stockings. The improved supporter is flat when adjusted to a stocking, will not accidentally loosen, is easy to adjust and readily released, and when applied takes a wide grip and will not tear the hose or stockings. The supporter is also useful for application to a corset, corset-cover, shirtwaist, and to a skirt, and when used with a shirtwaist and skirt it will hold the former down in place at the back and prevent the skirt from sagging. The supporter when applied is concealed from exterior view and will in view of its compact construction not materially projector be discernible through the garments with which it cooperates and lit close to the body of the wearer.

The invention consists, essentially, of a supporter having a resilient frame comprising a pair of legs and a clamping-bar, the legs pivotally carrying a clamping element movable through the frame and cooperating with the bar, said element having thereon a shiftable locking device to engage portions of the legs to hold the parts of the supporter in close relation.

The invention further consists in the details of construction and arrangement, which will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 isa front elevation of a supporter embodying the features of the invention and shown closed. Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the supporter in closed condition. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the supporter shown applied and in open condition. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4:, showing the parts of the supporter in clamping relation. Fig.

6 is a horizontal section through the shank of the clamping element and the locking device thereon. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the locking device. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the securing means for the locking device.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates a U-shaped springwire frame, the cross member 2 at one end forming a clamping-bar. The side members 3 are bent at intermediate points to form legs 4, having inturned terminals 5 and intermediate stop-bends 6, one in each leg. The stopbends 6 are projected inwardly, and therefrom the legs continue in divergent planes. A hanger 7, having an elongated loop construction, is secured to the bends 8, formed in the side members 3 of the frame 1, to produce the legs 4:, the bends 8 movably engaging openings 9 at opposite ends of the hanger. It will be understood that any other means of movably attaching the hanger may be adopted, and by applying the hanger in the manner explained it is permitted to have movement or pivotal action in relation to the frame 1, and, furthermore, by having the bends 8 of the frame firmly secured to the hanger the resilient action of the parts of said frame is un-- impaired and the opening therethrough is unobstructed for convenience in application of the remaining parts of the supporter.

The inturned terminals 5 of the legs 4 project through or engage fulcrum barrels or rolls 10, formed at opposite sides of a clamping member 11 and projecting rearwardly from the latter. The clamping member or plate 11 is freely movable through the frame and when in locked position projects below the clamping-bar 2. Extending upwardly from the center of the clamping member or plate 11 is a reduced shank 12, which is long enough to provide a support for a locking device slidably mounted thereon to cooperate with the bends 6 of the legs 1. The barrels or rolls 10 are produced by cutting the metal recesses 13.

longitudinally at opposite sides of the shank and turning the loose parts backwardly. The shank 12 near its free end also has oppositelydisposed longitudinal recesses 13, and transversely supported on the shank is a locking device or keeper 14, which is long enough to have its opposite terminals project over the rear portions of the stop-bends 6. The locking device or keeper 14 has a central longitudinally disposed slot 15 formed therein, and therethrough are inserted the legs 16 of a clasp 17, the head of the latter bearing against the outer side of the locking device or keeper 14 and the legs 16 bent around and held closely against the rear side of the shank between the The locking device or keeper 14 is, in effect, a slide having less length than the distance between the upper portions of the legs 4. The advantage of this construction is that the parts of the supporter can be more economically and expeditiously assembled, and it will be seen that when the clamping member or plate 11 is applied the locking device or keeper 14 will be simultaneously disposed in operative position. Moreover, the frame members 3 are left clear, and its construction will be materially simplified and the resilient action thereof will remain undisturbed and unobstructed. A still further advantage of arranging the locking device or keeper on the shank 12 of the clamping member or plate 11 is that it can be more conveniently reached and quickly operated in applying or releasing the supporter. It will also be observed that the use of solder or rivets in the construction of the supporter is wholly avoided, and hence the manufacture thereof will be materially simplified and the cost of production reduced.

In securing the supporter to a garment or piece of fabric the clamping-bar 2 and adjacent portion of the frame are applied against one side of the fabric or garment, and the clamping member 11 is turned over and downwardly against the opposite side of the latter, thereby forcing the fabric or portion of the garment through the lower part of the frame and rearwardly against the clamping-bar 2. The shank 12 will then be in vertical position, and the slide or locking device on the shank can be readily moved downward to engage the bends 6 to hold the parts of the supporter in closed condition and prevent accidental separation of the same. At any time desired the supporter can be quickly released by drawing the slide or locking device upwardly to clear the bends 6. When the parts of the supporter are closed, the legs 4 are moved or drawn toward the frame under spring resist ance, and therefore the slide or locking device carried by the shank 12 of the clamping member 11 is held with considerable resisting pressure against the bonds 6. In view of the spring tension of the legs 4 a release movement of the slide or locking device with respect to the bends 6 will" cause the legs 4' to spring outwardly and throw the clamping member and shank into the position shown by Fig. 4, and thus quickly effect a release.

By mounting and operating the slide or looking device in the manner explained it is shielded from contact with adjacent garments and prevented from being moved into a releasing position when in use or when the parts of the supporter are closed in clamping relation. Moreover, it will be seen that the slide or locking device is prevented from becoming disengaged from the shank of the clamping member.. It is also proposed to use the improved supporter for holding napkins, towels, and the like or in connecting any other article to which it may be applicable. Changes in the proportions, dimensions, and minor details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A supporter having a resilient frame with a clamping-bar, a clamping member pivotally held by parts of the said frame and movable through the latter, and a locking-slide carried by the clamping member to engage portions of the frame, said slide being disengaged from and out of contact with the frame when the clamping member is unlocked.

2. A supporter having a resilient frame with legs and a clamping-bar, a clamping member movably held by the said legs and provided with a shank, and a locking-slide mounted on the said shank to engage portions of the legs, the resiliency of the frame serving to move the clamping member out of clamping position when the slide is disengaged from and out of contact. with the frame.

3. A supporter having a resilient frame with a lower clamping-bar and legs, aclamping member pivotally held by the terminals of the legs and movable through the frame, the legs having stop-bends, and a lockingslide carried by a part of the clamping member to removably engage the said stop-bends, the resiliency of the frame serving to move the clamping member out of clamping position when the slide is disengaged from the bends.

4. A supporter having a resilient wire frame bent to form legs and a lower clamping-bar, a clamping member pivotally held by the terminals of the legs and movable through the frame, the legs having inwardly-projected bends at intermediate points, and a slide carried by a part of the clamping member to engage the said bends.

5. A supporter having a resilient frame with a clamping-bar, a clamping member pivotally held by parts of the said frame and provided with a shank, a looking-slide carried by the shank of said member, and a clasp for holding the slide in movable relation to the shank.

6. A supporter having a frame with a clamping-bar, a clam ping member pivotally held by parts of the frame and provided with a shank formed with recesses in the opposite edges,

and a slide mounted on the shank and having 1 means engaging the said recesses to retain said slide in operative relation to the shank.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES C. COPELAND.

Witnesses:

HUGH M. STERLING, CHAS. S. HYER. 

